Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country needs an immediate and massive military upgrade by 2016 and has called on his top brass to put the wheels in motion.

On Wednesday, he told top defense ministry and military officials that Russia is seeing insistent attempts from world powers, and the United States in particular, to upset the balance of missile defense, The Associated Press reported. He said the United States was trying to take the lead in world power and establish a new missile defense system, AP said.

His statements come at a time when Israel and the United States successfully tested a new missile defense system, the Arrow 3, which is aimed at shooting down long-range missiles.

They also come as the White House administration is warning forced budget cuts could idle some of the nations military operations. In Newport News, Va., on Tuesday, President Obama said the looming cuts could lead to questions like: Do I close this Navy shipyard or some other one? AP reported.

The world is beginning to experience a void in leadership. The US is curling into a ball, and is rapidly becoming nothing more than an annoyance to the rest of the world. A nation of consumers, without honor, vision or leadership.

This will either be the Russian or the Chinese century. Putin would like it to be the Russian century. You see, unlike Obama, Putin genuinely loves his country.

5
posted on 02/27/2013 7:41:32 AM PST
by brownsfan
(Behold, the power of government cheese.)

Russia, and especially its military, is absolutely overrun with corruption. All of their new procurement programs have problems that make those of the F-35 look like a joke (you just don't hear about it.)

Their economy is entirely based on exporting oil and gas, but they have high production costs and a decaying transport infrastructure, and they are probably going to be destroyed by the growth of shale oil and gas around the world.

And then you've got millions of people drinking themselves to death. I realize FR has gotten all squishy in admiration of Russia's recent anti-gay policies but the country is still a train wreck.

The picture is of the five nuclear carriers. Just like Battleship Row, Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. This picture was taken the other day in Norfolk. The Obama Administration ordered 5 nuclear carriers into harbor for "routine" (?) inspections. Heads of the Navy were flabbergasted by the directive. NORFOLK, VA. (February 8, 2013). The first time since WWII that five nuclear powered aircraft carriers were docked together.

Sources stated that this breached a long standing military protocol in the Navy meant to avoid massive enemy strike on major US forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan J. Courtade/Released)

"I realize FR has gotten all squishy in admiration of Russia's recent anti-gay policies but the country is still a train wreck."

The F-35 has its share of problems and the US seems to be declining at a brisk pace just like China and Russia (Which is not healthy for stability). Last thing the US needs to be doing is cutting defense when the "fiat" wars are potentially blooming in the coming decades; those who are well disciplined combined with a tech edge will emerge.

The US has a tech edge but lack traditional discipline, i.e. your male anal/pole smoking buddies, social reforms, and chicks "qutota'ed" to "the front lines" in a voluntary force will degrade when confronted by a force made of brainwashed Utopians and the well discipline drones/"gang-bangers" led by the "vory v zakone" as well as the Russian army who will be called to protect their interest. Air power alone won't amount to squat, plus our space exploration is focusing on Muslim outreach programs instead of primarily "weaponizing" space (Which unfortunately is necessary).

The US ground game is best at sticking with third/fourth world armies; even then COIN "preoccupation" is making us look like fools by draining trillions in resources (Do they take Clausewitz seriously anymore and yes Clause can be used against guerrilla tactics). I guess military isolation, tech preparation, psych-ops with the Eastern Europe (Heterogenous Russia against their quest at nationalistic aspirations) and "siege protection" is the best strategy against China and Russia (Easing the government's claws away from private industry is also preferable).

Yes, the Russian armed forces are but a shadow of their former selves and have a long ways to go to catchup to the West. The interesting thing if you read a lot of global defense articles is that they have very few concerns with the U.S. or NATO, even though the rhetoric is often aimed at them. Their big worry and the reason for any kind of buildup is that they fear a massive Chinese ground invasion that could take away a quarter of the country.

A Russian or Chinese invasion would be successful as Iran safely launching a manned mission to Mars in the next year which is why they don't take confrontation seriously.

Economic warfare and other strategies are employed in hopes that the US is weakened enough from seriously responding to eventual monumental threats (That would make the war against Al Quaeda look like a man and wife thumb wrestling) in foreign lands. The rhetoric is due to creating some scapegoat to go after, rally against, and destroy. Russia is a mess but in some realms "it started to rain" when the USSR broke up. Those that grabbed/manipulated to get the cash are a very peculiar and dangerous bunch that are not fully exposed.

Russians are getting ready for WW 3. They will be ready to face anything the world tosses at them—maybe an invasion by the US to enforce UN Pro Gay agenda? Or an Invasion from Red China, or Muslim hordes? Anything can happen. By the way, nothing like a war to clean up military corruption.

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